Bridgeton pioneer., 1887-05-26
NO. 2O44
THE STURGEON FISHERS.

| sturgeon fishermen at Bayside orga-
nized themselves for mutual protection.
They formed what is known as The
Sturgeon Fishermen's Protective As
sociation of N. J., with H. Blohm,
President; J. r. Elkinton, Secretary;
and JAS. StruInple, Treasurer Re
eeipts for the evening, $50. A com
mittee was appointed to draft a
constitution and code of bylaws.
AT the stated meeting Monday eve
ming, May 10Th, the association con-
vened in the auditory room of Mr.. Max
Ames' ice house, being the guests of
Mr. Ovid Davis, Mr.. Ames agent, who,
by his bland and congenial department,
made all welcome. The routine of busi-
ness was disposed of adopting a
constitution and code of bylaws.
A committee was appointed to con-
suit with counsel etc. Receipts for
the evening, $247.55. Total aggregate
in the Treasury, $30755 Mr.. Ans, of
New York, having contributed 5000 of
the funds with the assurance of more
in the future if necessary. The orators
of the evening were L. J. Torton, JAS
Strumple, G. d. Shannon, and others,
wherein the Indignation of the associa-
ton was vouchsafed in pathetic Ian
guage.
The meeting adjourned amid enthu
siastic gesticulation. for the purpose of
being entertained by the Bayside Glee
Club
/ Program:-Professor Johnny John
son amused the audience with his
inanimate companion Bobby. His
ventriloquism was chaste and full of
pathos, and his instrumental and vocal
productions were highly complimented
by those present. The renowned John
Kerns gave an exhibition of clog dane
| ing, which brought the entire audience
to their feet in encore. His vocal
renditions were sublime, especially the
ode of the Shamrock, the Thistle and
Rose-the national emblem of Ireland,
Scotland and England. Where is the
Irishman that the shamrock does not
infuse with pride; where is the Scotch
man that ignores the thistle, or the
Englishman that does not covet the
wnite or red rose!
Baldy Mahoney enlivened the occa-
sion with vocal strains, the odes hav-
ing their origin on the Emerald Isle.
He received several spontaneous en-
cores.
The coup de gran was reserved for
! Capt. Benny Hancock, who with eclGt,
and in suave manner thrilled the
audience with an original and popular
stanza of his-consorted with instru-
mental and vocal music. AT the finis
the 200 spectators separated with
universal determination to meet again
next Monday evening.
This S. F. P. A. is organized in the
interest of N. ]. and Penn. fishermen,
for the purpose of determining the
constitutionality of the Delaware
fish law, wherein she arrogates to
herself the exclusive jurisdiction of the
waters Of the Delaware bay and river,
from the Del shore to the n. J. shore.
NCW OClSCS uCh Noulu DO IdiCO w
the teachings of their primitive fathers
if they were not indignant at the I'M
just law passed by the Delaware Legis-
lature, and the action of Del. citizens.
We have Del fish gang in our midst,
comprising four boats and nets. The
first of the season they fished at
Bowers Beach, Del, where they
scooped in fine lot of fish, in fact,
made fair seasons work before Bay
side fishermen had commenced. As
soon as the fish left Bowers Beach,
they broke camp and came to this
locality, where they follow their avo-
cation unmolested.
Take the oyster business for illustra-
ton. 600 vessels are employed in the
catch of oysters in Delaware bay.
Five-sixths are registered in N. j.; one
sixth are foreigners, principally Della.
wareans who pay no revenue to the
State of New Jersey. The principal
oyster beds lie on the N. j. side of the
bay, from Arnold's Point to Fortescue
Beach, distance of 10 miles, and the
Delaware oystermen with impunity
dredge those beds, carry the oysters
to their side of the bay and plant
them, and claim as much right to them
as N. j. oystermen. Oysters are inert
within themselves, and become the
property of the State in which they
grow, and State can legislate for the
protection of her oyster beds as much
as for her coal and timber lands But
when State claims the priority over
sturgeon, a fish that is the most
migratory of any that belongs to Ich-
thyology, they are going beyond juris-
prudence. Sturgeon are found in
northern Europe, in the Black and
Caspian seas and their tributaries.
The lakes and principal rivers of the
United States are abundantly stocked
with them. They inhabit the Pacific
and Atlantic oceans and the Gulf of
Mexico, and are found in almost every
navigable stream in the world. They
inhabit the Delaware bav and river